Mahoraga: Mouthful + Monster

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SOURCE: mappa studios, Jujutsu kaisen

Eight-Handled Sword Divergent Sila Divine General Mahoraga. This name may be a mouthful, but Mahoraga definitely lives up to this grandiose title. The only thing it can’t adapt to is the massive SPOILER WARNING that is in effect. Mahoraga is the last and most powerful shikigami in the Ten Shadow’s Technique, currently used by Megumi in Jujutsu Kaisen. Manga readers were pleased to a beautiful visual showcase of the prowess that they were excited for. Shortly before this first appearance in the anime, Mahoraga was present each week in the manga, where he joined Sukuna in a battle against Gojo that lasted nearly a dozen chapters.

Mahoraga’s power has been on full display in the Anime community these last few months. It lives up to its near mythical status of having never been tamed in the entire history of the technique. In the anime episode, it is explained that thousands of years ago, the heads of the Gojo and Zenin clan battled to their mutual death over a dispute. It is specifically mentioned that the head of the Gojo clan had the same technique as current day Saturu Gojo, and the head of the Zenin clan sported the same cursed technique as Megumi. This tidbit, along with many other teasers in the story, set the stage for Megumi’s last stand technique to be a very strong one. One that is on par with the strongest sorcerer, Saturu Gojo. Manga readers were given their answer.

Manga panel of jujutsu kaisen where sukuna summons mahoraga in a fight against gojo saturu

Source: gege akutami, Jujutsu kaisen

Mahoraga, like the other shikigami in the Ten Shadows Technique, must be summoned by the user and defeated in a combat ritual before the technique user can summon it as an ally. As previously mentioned, never in history has Mahoraga been defeated. This was before Sukuna took over Megumi’s body and adopted his cursed technique.

Mahoraga is close to twelve feet in height, has four wings coming from its eye sockets, a long tail that comes from the back of its head, and an eight segmented wheel that floats above its head. It has a blade sitting on its wrist that can exorcise cursed spirits with one slash. It is not only physically strong, but has the ability to adapt to any and all phenomena using the wheel. During combat, the wheel will turn one peg at a time, signalling its adaptation defensively to survive attacks or offensively to pierce an enemy’s defenses.

gojo saturu getting his right arm cut off by mahoraga after mahoraga adapts to gojo's limitless technique in battle.

Source: gege akutami, jujutsu kaisen

During the first fight we witnessed against Sukuna, Mahoraga was toyed around with and tested. Despite this, it was able to withstand Sukuna’s Domain Expansion, and countless combos of Dismantle and Cleave. Fighting alongside Sukuna later on against Saturu Gojo, we were treated to a viewing party of Mahoraga’s full powers on display.

Saturu, who seemed untouchable the entire series, was battered by Sukuna and Mahoraga. Mahoraga adapted to Saturu’s Domain Expansion, his Hollow Purple technique, and finally, it adapted to Limitless. This allowed both Sukuna and Mahoraga to apply physical damage to Saturu even while he was outside of a Domain. This was a feat we had never seen performed up until this point in the story.

While I may never be able to remember it’s entire name, even after reading the manga several times, what can be remembered about mahoraga is that it instilled fear into the cast of Jujutsu Kaisen from the beginning. It is the single reason that Sukuna took interest in Megumi from the start of the story, and even the threat of Megumi’s death ritual suicidal last stand was enough to scare off special grade curses. Even scarier, under the control of Sukuna, Mahoraga becomes a horrifiying sidekick to the main villain.

 

Heya! I’m Owen. I’m the rugby playing, manga reading, drag race watching, poetry writing, cosplaying, fandom hopping hot mess that your parents warned you about. For as long as I can remember I have been comparing, contrasting, and speculating about all of my favourite geeky hobbies. Hiding in the library in middle school and devouring three volumes of Hunter X Hunter every day most definitely had its perks. I represent the Queer/Athlete/Geek/Writer/ subgenre to the best of my abilities and I’m able to geek out about many things, so you’ll be sure to get your fill while you check out my blog.